Blood-Stained Heir (Ascent Archives Book 1)

by T. Norman

  12

  “We need to find the others. Hopefully Mic and Julia made it away safely.” Bors tried to get Rysh to focus, to get his head back to where it needed to be.

  I promise you, Gant, I will find you and I will kill whoever responsible for this. Rysh unclenched his jaws to take a breath in. “Where should we start?”

  “We need to get out of the city. It’s too dangerous here.”

  The two worked their way from alley to alley until they found a safe path out of Janost. They stopped to rest just west of town as smoke billowed behind them.

  “Rysh!” The two turned to see Mic and Julia walk out from behind some trees.

  “How did you get out of there?” Rysh was relieved to see the two.

  Ros came out of the bushes, wagging her tail happily. “She started barking at us and then ran off so, I followed her,” Julia said. “I didn’t know what was going on.”

  “The dog saved our life.” Mic knew about Apo’k, giving him reason to trust the animal. “We tried to get Limmey to come with us, but he refused. He said a captain couldn’t leave his ship.”

  “Limmey didn’t make it.” Bors broke the news to the others.

  “What about Gant?” Julia asked. “And Lori and Gayle?”

  “They . . .” Rysh didn’t know how to answer the girl. She had grown up with Lori as a handmaiden, and he didn’t know how Julia would react to the knowledge that Lori was a traitor.

  “They were captured,” Bors interjected. “We saw some guards taking them away.” He turned and gave Rysh a subtle nod.

  “Do we know where they went?” Mic held the head of his axe, obviously ready for a good fight.

  “I do.” They all turned to see Apo’k walk out of the woods.

  “Bors, Julia, Mic,” Rysh gestured toward the new arrival. “This is Apo’k. We met in Rushton; he’s a seer.” Rysh thought it best to tell the truth.

  “I watched them leave the town in ashes,” Apo’k said. “They are taking your friends south toward Vendos.”

  “We need to go after them!” Rysh knew what future Vendos would hold for his son if he reached there.

  Bors stepped forward again. “We need to think about the mission, Rysh. We can’t risk Julia’s life by taking her to Vendos.”

  Rysh shook his head in disagreement. “You can’t ask me to just let my son be taken prisoner! I will not leave him behind!”

  “I agree with Rysh,” Mic said. “They’re our friends, and we can’t abandon them.”

  “I’m not suggesting that we abandon them, just that we can’t bring Julia to Vendos.” Bors held his hands out in supplication.

  “What are you suggesting, then?” Rysh wanted this resolved so he could begin chasing the soldiers who had his son.

  “We split up. Half of us go with Julia toward Port Sarim while the other half goes after the others. We can rendezvous in Port Sarim.”

  “Don’t I get a say in all of this?” Julia threw her arms in the air in disgust. “Gant and Gayle are my friends as well, and I’ve known Lori since I was a child. What if I want to go help them?”

  “We can’t put you in harm’s way like that, Julia,” Rysh said. He hated telling her no, because he would have done the exact same thing. “Bors, go with Julia and Mic; take Ros with you, as well. Apo’k, can you lead me to them?"

  "Of course." Apo'k was crouching next to Ros scratching her head. It was the first time Rysh had seen them interact, and the depth of their relationship was evident.

  "I won't let you do that!" Julia protested. "You can't fight them with just two of you."

  Rysh looked to Bors, and said, "I think it's time you explained to Julia who you are."

  Bors nodded his agreement. "I'm afraid I haven't been quite honest with you," he admitted. He recounted the story of the Skirling Pass, all those years ago, and what happened when he and Rysh went into Wayton to get medicine. "This is why I must keep you safe," he finished.

  Julia was in shock. "Darren wasn’t my father?” She shook her head in disbelief.

  "We wanted to tell you at the right time." Rysh tried to explain to her. "It was to keep you safe."

  "We must get going. The longer we wait, the more ground we lose." Apo'k had been patient while Bors told his story, but he wanted to get moving.

  Rysh moved to hug the young girl. "I promise we will make it out all right. You’ll see us in just a few nights." Rysh next moved to Mic to embrace his friend. "Stay safe."

  "You, too."

  Rysh was left facing Bors. He moved in close so the others couldn't hear and said, "If we aren't in Port Sarim in a fortnight, leave without us. Julia's safety is most important."

  Bors nodded. "Be safe out there, and don't do anything stupid." He gave a crooked smile.

  Apo'k and Rysh left in a hurry, heading southeast at a fast pace.

  "How far ahead of us are they?" Rysh asked the seer.

  "Half day,” Apo’k responded. " My estimate is that we can catch them in two."

  "Let's not waste any more time." Rysh was anxious to find his son. "Apo'k, thank you. You didn't have to do this, but I appreciate it."

  "Thank me after we have your son."

  With every bump in the road, Gant felt the sting of raw skin under the chains on his wrist. He and Gayle were both chained, sitting in the back of a cart. At least a dozen soldiers rode in front of the wagon and another half dozen behind. Lori rode at the front with their leader, a man named Carn. Gant had listened to the conversations of the men and it sounded like he was a cold and heartless warrior.

  Gant leaned over to look closer at his friend. When they were captured, Gayle had put up a fight, opening his leg wound. He had lost a lot of blood and was looking very pale.

  "I won't let anything happen to you," Gant promised his sleeping friend. He looked back and saw the second rider on his left had his bow and arrows on the back of his saddle.

  "Don't even think about it, kid." Gant jumped, noticing that the leader was now riding next to the wagon, watching him. "It would only end badly for you."

  "Why are you doing this?" Gant was angry with this man.

  "It's nothing against you; you seem like a good kid. We just want the girl," Carn responded honestly.

  "Let me go, I promise to bring her to you." Gant tried his hand.

  Carn laughed. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. I'm not a fool, however." Carn laughed again at Gant's comments. "Are you any good with that bow and arrow?"

  Gant was shocked by the question. Is he really making small talk with me? Gant figured it wouldn't hurt to see what he could learn. "I'm all right. How about you; are you any good with that scimitar?"

  "Yes," Carn responded immediately. "You would do well to remember that." It wasn't a threat so much as a warning. "Most young boys want to grow up to be swordsmen. What made you choose the bow?"

  "I started hunting at a young age to help my dad get food," Gant said. He didn't see the harm in talking to Carn. "He didn't want me to become a soldier and told me the bow was a tool, not a weapon."

  "Have you killed anyone with it?" Carn asked.

  "No."

  Carn laughed again. "So young and innocent. Don't forget that, kid. Someday you are going to kill someone, but your dad had it right: it's a tool, not a weapon." Gant was confused as to why Carn was being so friendly but decided to take advantage of it.

  "My friend is really sick,” he ventured. “Don’t you have anyone that could help him?"

  "Once we get to Vendos, we’ll have a proper healer take a look at him. I’ll have someone do what they can to help now, though." Carn whistled at the forward guard. "Send back the healer."

  Gant turned and watched as Lori turned her horse and walked it back to the wagon.

  "Take a look at the boy here. He's lost a lot of blood from that wound," Carn ordered her.

  "I can't do it on a moving wagon." Lori avoided Gant's gaze.

  "Halt!" Carn barked at his soldiers. "This is as good a spot as any to make camp for
the night. Get to work." His men broke off immediately to set up camp. "Close up that wound, and take a look at the other boy’s wrists as well. See if you can do anything to help." Carn rode away from the wagon, leaving Gant alone with Lori and Gayle.

  "Why did you do it?" Gant was furious with Lori.

  She kept her eyes focused on Gayle, pretending she didn't hear Gant.

  "You can't ignore me!" Gant yelled at her. "Why'd you do it?"

  "I didn't have a choice." Tears formed in Lori’s eyes. "They threatened to take my life."

  "What about Julia? You helped raise her! She was practically your family, but all you cared about was yourself.”

  "I'm sorry." Lori held back tears as she hurried away from the wagon.

  The soldiers continued to set up camp as dusk fell. Two soldiers came and unchained Gant from the cart and brought him to a large tent in the center of the camp. They opened the tent, ushering Gant in. His eyes took a second to adjust to the light, until he finally saw Carn sitting at a table with a board in front of him.

  "Have a seat," he said, gesturing toward the chair across from him. Gant complied. "Take those chains off of him, he won't need those in here." The soldier with the keys moved over and unclasped the chains from Gant's wrist. Gant sighed as he felt instant relief from the cold metal around his wrists. "Have you ever played pytharian?" Gant looked at the board in front of him. There was a terrain map with small soldier pieces, cavalry, trebuchets, and other tools of war.

  "I've heard of it, but I've never played."

  "Well, you're in luck. I happen to be an expert teacher." Carn began setting the pieces up as Gant watched intently. “You see, it’s all about misdirection. Not only that, but timing. As soon as you look one way, the attack is coming from the other.”

  13

  “We should rest for the night, it’s getting dark,” Bors pressed Julia.

  “Look at the moon, though. We have plenty of light, why not take advantage of it and gain some extra ground?” And get closer to Gant, she thought. After they left Rysh and Apo’k, Julia began to notice that Ros kept looking in the direction they went, so Julia slowly started to veer that way in hopes of catching up to Rysh.

  “Bors is right, Julia; it’s not safe traveling in the dark.”

  “We’ve discussed this, please call me Alric.” Bors had been trying to get them to use his real name, now that his secret was out.

  “We have a few more good hours of moonlight. Let’s take advantage of it,” Julia pled. She knew if they kept traveling they could cut off the soldiers’ progress. “I am your princess, after all, so you really should listen to me.” Julia was thankful it was dark enough that they couldn’t see the smirk on her face.

  Alric grunted, “If you insist.” Julia could tell he wasn’t pleased with being told what to do. Serves him right for lying to me. She couldn’t believe that he was a lord in the Dusseldorf Army—and most of all, that he knew her parents.

  “Will you tell me about my parents?” Julia had only heard stories of the king, which most likely had originated in taverns.

  “What would you like to know?”

  Julia had so many questions, but decided to start with the basics. “What were they like?”

  Alric laughed. “Well, that’s a loaded question. Your father was one of the bravest men I knew. Most leaders fight from the back, but not your father. He was always on the front line leading the charge.”

  “Did he kill a lot of men?” Julia had never liked violence.

  “He didn’t kill for joy, but out of necessity. When he could end a battle peacefully he would, which is why the kingdom loved him.”

  “What about my mother?” Lord Darren’s wife had died while Julia was young, so she spent most of her life without a mother.

  “She was the kindest individual I’ve ever known.” Alric spoke with a faint smile on his face. “I remember many days when she would travel around the countryside to a number of smaller villages, bringing food and supplies. She had a large heart, much like you do.”

  Julia couldn’t help but smile. “So my parents were liked?”

  “No,” Alric responded quickly. “Your parents were loved. Which is why it was so devastating when they died.”

  “Will you tell me how they died, the real story?” Julia had heard stories of the battle of the Skirling Pass in the tavern, but she didn’t trust them to tell the truth.

  “Not tonight. We should stop and rest, the moon is setting.” Julia hadn’t noticed that the moon was almost below the horizon.

  “All right, but tomorrow I want to know more.” She was pleased with what she had learned, but she was even more pleased at how they hadn’t noticed her change in direction. Hopefully they would be able to catch up with Rysh and Apo’k others tomorrow. She had no idea what to do once they caught up with the others, but she couldn’t bear to stay separated.

  Gant woke to noises and rustling coming from the woods. He sat up to see a couple soldiers rushing toward Carn’s tent. He came out to greet them looking annoyed.

  “What’s all the commotion about?” he barked at his men.

  Gant could barely hear their response. “Sir, we found a body in the woods.”

  “One of ours?” Carn was visibly displeased by this information.

  “It was the woman,” the soldier responded.

  Lori. Gant felt a moment of terror as he heard the news. He saw Carn glance in his direction before he continued questioning his men. “Do you know what happened?”

  The soldier hesitated before he responded, “We found her with a bloody dagger in her hand, and a wound to her stomach.”

  “I see.” Carn waved the man off. “Take care of the body.” He looked at Gant to see his reaction.

  She . . . she killed herself. Gant was distraught. He had yelled at her and blamed her for all the deaths in Wayton. It’s my fault, I made her do it, he thought. He fought back tears.

  Carn walked over to where Gant was sitting. “I take it you heard all of that?”

  “Yeah.” Gant was unsure what to say. There were too many emotions playing out in his head.

  “I know you think it’s your fault, but it wasn’t.” Carn spoke sternly to him, forcing him to look up at the man. “She had her own free will and she chose her path.”

  “I shouldn’t have yelled at her. That’s all I can think about now.”

  Carn knelt down to eye level with the boy. “We all make mistakes,” he said gently, “and if we let every single one get to us, we would never survive.”

  “Like killing all those people in Wayton?” The words were out of his mouth before he knew what he had said.

  Carn calmly rose up from his crouch. “I had my orders.” With that he walked away into his tent, leaving Gant to figure out this strange man.

  “Gant, what’s going on?” Gayle had been sleeping since they were captured.

  “Gayle! I was so worried about you!” After Lori had looked at his wound he hadn’t shown signs of improvement, but Gant took him finally being awake as a sign of hope.

  Gayle tried to sit up, only to fall back down. The chains around his hands limited his movement.

  “Lie down, let me get you some water.” Gant was able to stand up, even though his ankles and wrists were chained together once more. He moved over to a water basin and filled a cup for Gayle.

  “Here you go.” Gant poured the water into Gayle’s mouth. “How are you feeling?”

  “All right. A little sore, but my leg doesn’t hurt.” Gayle’s optimism lifted Gant’s spirits.

  “Can I take a look at it to see how it’s healing up?” Gant asked his friend. Gayle nodded his agreement. Gant slowly began to untie the bandage around Gayle’s thigh, being careful not to move too quickly. He hoped it was healing, but as he unwrapped the smell became more potent. “Oh no.” Gant couldn’t hide his shock. The wound was open and pus was visible along the abrasion. The skin around the wound was turning dark, spreading up and down his leg.

 
; “What? What’s wrong?” Gayle was lying down and couldn’t see his wound.

  “I’m not sure.” Gant had no experience in medicine except for basic cuts and scrapes. He scanned the camp for someone to help him, noticing Carn leaving his tent. “Can you come help me?” Gant called out to the captain.

  He looked at the boy curiously before giving in and coming over to see what was wrong. “What can I do for you?” he asked politely.

  “Gayle, his leg.” Gant lifted the bandages to show him the wound. “I’m not sure what’s going on.”

  Carn rebounded from the smell and the sight of the wound. “Lieutenant, come here.” Captain Sharpe’s second in command jogged over to the boy lying on the ground. “Take a look at this.” Gant lifted the bandages again for the lieutenant. He clasped at his mouth, holding in his reaction. “Have you seen anything like this before?” Carn asked.

  “Yes, sir,” The soldier backed a few paces away from Gayle. “Only once, though.”

  “Come with me, now.” Carn turned toward Gant and said, “Keep it covered, and keep giving your friend water.”

  Carn and the lieutenant walked into Carn’s tent while Gant got up to retrieve more water. As he walked back he saw the lieutenant leave the tent, walk over to a group of soldiers and start talking to them. They all peered over toward Gayle, and then moved off in different directions.

  Carn came out of his tent and moved toward Gant before he returned to Gayle.

  “Does he have a fever?” Carn asked, sounding upset.

  “He’s a little warm,” Gant admitted. “Do you know what this is?” Carn’s tone made him worry.

  “Can he feel his leg? Is it hurting him?” Carn asked.

  “No, he said he couldn’t even feel it. Why? What is it?”

  Carn shook his head, “I’m sorry. Your friend is sick. Very sick,” Carn turned Gant away from his friend as he spoke to him. “I believe your friend has thanatis.”

  “Thanatis, what is that?”

  “It starts as an infection from a wound, but quickly becomes contagious.” Gant realized what those words meant.